Let’s talk candle ingredients.

If you’re a candle lover like we are, you may have done a bit of research that has led you to our site. We’re glad you’re here. There’s so much information online about candles, fragrances, different waxes, what’s better, what’s safe, etc. We’ve created three-part series on candle ingredients and hopefully, by the end of our series, you’ll have a clearer sense of what is right for you.

WICKS

We'll begin with the wick, a key ingredient that is responsible for how well your candle burns and how well it delivers fragrance.

Currently on the U.S. market there are available cotton wicks and wooden wicks.

Both types of wicks come in different sizes, appropriate for different size containers and will give you a beautiful fragrance experience.

 There are many different types of cotton wicks on the market and each candlemaker will choose the one best suited for their vessel and amount of fragrance combined with the type of wax used. Some cotton wicks are flat braided cotton with paper woven in to increase the rigidity of the wick and others are cotton only and most container candles are coated with a thin layer of wax to aid in the burn.  There has been some concern over the use of wicks with lead cores, and the possibility of lead poisoning from a burning candle. No need to worry! The manufacture and import of lead core wicks has been banned in The United States since 2003. Some candlemakers may choose to use zinc or tin core wicks for their ability to keep wicks rigid while burning, thereby preventing the surrounding liquefied wax from extinguishing the flame. Repeated testing has proven that these wicks are safe and are non-toxic. We choose to use traditional cotton wicks made only of cotton and paper weave.

Once you make your candle purchase, be sure to trim your wick to ¼” (ours are trimmed for you). Trim your wick before each subsequent burn to ensure a safe burn that extends the life of your candle.

 Bottom line on wicks is that your candlemaker will choose the best wick for a proper and safe candle burn. As long as you follow trimming recommendations and burn guidelines, your candle should have a long life and burn safely.